Smyrna times., 1887-08-03
For The Smyrna Times.
A Picture of DesOlatiou.

Along in the early part of the eigh-
teenth century what is now known as
" Tidewater" Virginia, the region "
ing upon the eastern slope of the Blue
Ridge and whose rivers are subject
for a considerable distance from the
mouth, to the tides of the Atlantic such
as the James, Potomac, Rappahan-
Ock and streams of lesser vOlumne be-
came, Notwithstanding the malariOus
nature of the climate, the scene of the
earliest attempts at Colonization in
this country. Under Royal grants i'm
mense tracts of land were pre-empted
and considerable portions of them
through the aid of slaves were brought
under cultivation, the rich virgin soil
yielding enormous crops of wheat, corn
and tobacco. Churches were built, the
material being brought from England
in tobacco ships. These churches were
not only fne specimens of art, but their
ruins attest at this day the almost i'm
perishable nature of their construction.
Glazed bricks, heavy masses of masonry,
elaborate carving upon solid oak, ma
hOgany and other woods The richest,
and cOstliest tapestries, such as the
established Church of England, were
sent over in prOfusiOn to adOrn the
temples of its daughter in America the
Episcopal Church.
Generally some quiet retired dell
was selected as the church site, sufii-
cient space being cleared and walled in
for place of burial, and here nestled
in the bosom of the virgin forest was
the point to which all roads would
converge, over which from miles away
the gentry and their families would re.
pair to sit grandly in their high backed
pews while fringe of woody head
slaves would listen to the sermon al
the open windows outside.
One day during the war of 1912 d
picket guard accommodating along III,
lower James found it necessary to force
their way through a tangled under
growth of scrub oaks opening into {
ravine and in doing so came upon the
ruins Of an old church; huge trees were
growing close up to the building OF
every side to meet above and interlac,
their branches over the crumbling roof
The handsome vestibulc porch, such a
finds favor even at the present day t,
mark the front appOach to all Episco
pal churches, was completely blocked
up by great PROSTATE pine that il
falling had carried with it the column
that supported the light roof. Within
the graveyard to one side a tangled
mass of shrubbery covered many
marked as well as unmarked grave
All that remained of the parsonage ad
joining this was the chimney stack o
glazed bricks which so far had no
yielded to the elements.
Within the church the desolatiOn G
the place became more apparent. Tn
saving of the tree branches had broker
long ago the beautiful stained cathe
dral glass of the windows, and it nov
lay upon the floor in glittering heap:
One corner of the roof over the chance
was gone and the rain finding its wa
in had made sad work in the sanctu
ary. This opening in the roof had be
come the means also of furnishing tn
needed sunlight, for a huge oak tina
having taken root in the middle aisl
had grown until its progress had bee
; stopped by the roof. and which it no,
served to uphold. A skeleton of Bibl
frayed by the wind lay opened upO
the reading desk as if the lesson of tn
day had just been read and the rectC
was waiting for the intOnatiOn A Ii.
. ard crawling among the arched tin
bers of the roof lost its footing, fell wit
a splash into the Baptismal font now fu
of rain water. The pews in the galleriC
bOwing low to those on the floor fell q
the slightest touch. Never was des,
latiOn seen so complete in the midst ,
teeming vegetable life. Nothing ha
been disturbed with rudeness, sav
that of the erosion of time. No sOun
disturbed the profound stiffness of u
place excepting when some poor fug
tive slave seeking its loneliness fC
refuge would from his hiding plaC
among the high backed pews caution
ly raise his head and listen for I'll
sound of approaching footsteps, or I'll
savage cry of blOOdhOunds. S.